Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [113]
“She was a goddess worshipped by the Israelites in Canaan many centuries ago.”
She nodded. “Before they realized there was only one true God.”
“No.”
She went still. “What do you mean? After Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, they worshipped only one God.”
“No.”
She whispered, “You’re saying the holy books lie?”
“I’m saying that the holy books were written by men, and perhaps they didn’t wish to admit to falling from the true path.”
“It could not be.”
He smiled bitterly. “You see how it shocks and horrifies you? Our religion is based on the holy books, and you cannot conceive that they’re not perfect. You’re afraid that if one lie exists, the entire fabric could be rotten.”
“Blasphemy. There is only one God.”
“Did I say anything else? All I’m saying is that the Goddess Asherah was worshipped in Canaan even though it was forbidden. God was known as Yahweh and the goddess Asherah was His wife. They called her the Lion Lady, and she sat on the lion throne and was known as the Goddess of Fertility.”
She shook her head. “I will not believe it.”
“It happened. The Canaanites would not give up their goddess. Finally, in an attempt to sweep her from the earth, the holy men destroyed every idol and religious relic pertaining to Asherah.” He paused. “Except the lion throne. They brought the throne to the Temple of Solomon and hid it deep in the caves together with a tablet forbidding that it ever again see the light of day.”
“Why did they not destroy it?”
“Superstition. They’d been guided by the goddess for centuries and, according to the Canaanites, she was the wife of the one true God. The lion throne was the symbol and seat of her power. What if there was some truth in the myth and they offended her by destroying it?”
“I cannot believe the Templars were equally superstitious.”
“No. By the time they uncovered the throne and tablet, thousands of men had fought and died in the Crusades to prove to the infidels there was only one true God. They desperately wanted to destroy the throne. But they couldn’t do it.”
“Of course they could do it.”
“Perhaps they were afraid to. For another reason. There was something in the tablet that confused and terrified them. Something that could have been taken in one of two ways.”
“What are you talking about?” she whispered.
“There was a phrasing…. There was some doubt that Asherah was a separate goddess.”
She looked at him in bewilderment. “What?”
“It appeared there was a possibility that Yahweh and Asherah were not man and wife…but one. One god…or goddess.”
She stared at him, stunned. He could not mean it.
“They couldn’t take the chance of destroying a truly holy relic. The throne had to be kept inviolate, but no one could ever know it existed.”
“Everyone knows God is male.”
“Of course they do. But the tablet—Perhaps it only meant that Asherah was the part of God that gave fertility. Surely God must have many sides to His vast power.”
“And one side is a woman?”
“I did not say that.”
“Because you’re afraid to say it. Just as they’re afraid to say it.” She shivered. “I’m afraid to say it also.” God must remain the deity she had known since childhood. Everything else in the world could change, but God must remain the same. “I will not believe it.”
“Then don’t believe it, but realize that the Templars will do anything to make sure that no one else will believe it either. The Pope and Church rule the world. Nothing about the doctrine they decree must be questioned.”
“I do not question. How can anyone question the true faith?”
“Listen to me: the Templars fear you will question it. You created a banner that is a taunt and a challenge to them.” He paused. “And you gave it to the infidel.”
“Nonsense. My banner had nothing to do with gods or goddesses. It was your banner.”
“If it was mine, why did you give it to Kemal?”
“You know why. I would have given it to Satan himself to get it out of my sight.”
“And that’s who the Temple will think you gave it to. They’ll believe I told you of the throne and you crafted a banner to give support